Melbourne's Ben Key took the next step in his football career on Wednesday, the 280-pound defensive lineman officially signing his letter of intent with Mississippi State as he heads to the SEC for the 2020 college football season.
Key is coming off his second season at East Los Angeles College at the JUCO level after graduating from LA's Cathedral High in 2018. Back in May the 20-year-old told ESPN he'd received interest from Oregon, Utah, USC and Auburn, among others.
But the Starkville-bound Aussie committed to Mississippi State early in his recruiting process, citing their loyalty and recent history of putting defensive linemen into the NFL. He signed his letter shortly after the December 18 Early Signing window opened in Australia.
Key started training for his switch from rugby league to (American) football at Conquest Athletic Performance in Melbourne before he moved to California and landed at No.41 on the 2020 ESPN Junior College 50..